Meet Our Founder
Heidi Gerard
ChrysantheMoms began with one mom’s vision to make life a little easier for other moms walking a similar path.
Heidi, a single mother of four and a woman in long-term recovery, recognized the challenges mothers in Harford County face trying to balance sobriety, parenting, work, and everyday life. In 2023, what began as an idea for monthly support groups and occasional mommy-and-me outings blossomed into ChrysantheMoms , a growing organization dedicated to supporting mothers in recovery.
Soon after its formation, ChrysantheMoms was invited to provide coordination for Harford County’s Family Recovery Court and Truancy Court programs. In April 2024, The Lily House opened, offering a home focused on healing, reunification, and recovery, and ChrysantheMoms expanded to provide peer support for families in early recovery or struggling with addiction. Around the same time, Hailey’s Closet was launched to provide clothing to anyone in need across Harford County.
Heidi brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work. With a background in early childhood education, six years teaching in Baltimore City, and seven years in the nonprofit field, she also serves as the Family Recovery Court Coordinator in Harford County. At its core, ChrysantheMoms walks alongside mothers as they heal, grow, and rebuild their families offering support, resources, and programs designed so recovery and motherhood can thrive together.
Why ChrysantheMoms?
The name ChrysantheMoms reflects the strength, growth, and resilience of the women it serves. Just like the chrysanthemum, a flower known for blooming even in the harshest seasons, these mothers continue to rise, heal, and grow through life’s most difficult challenges.
Built by and for mothers in recovery, ChrysantheMoms grew from heartfelt conversations, community support, and the belief that recovery can bring families back together. What began as planting small seeds of hope has blossomed into a space where women rebuild families, restore dignity, and rediscover their purpose. We are still growing, still blooming, and still creating a future where recovery and motherhood walk hand in hand.